Wrench.



R. PETERSON.

WRENCH. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20| 1915.

l 1 88,988. Patented June 27, 1916.

INVENTOR WITNEVSSES V m ATTORNEY REUBEN PETERSON, OE CLABISSA, MINNESOTA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2'7, 1916.

Application filed August 20, 1915. Serial No. 46,466.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REUBEN PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clarissa, in the county of Todd and'State of Minnesota, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in renches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wrenches and more particularly to a wheel wrench.

The primary object of my invention resides in the provision of a novel wheel wrench embodying means resiliently mounted in the hub of a wheel for removable engagement with a nut on a vehicle axle for applying or removing the nut from the axle without the aid of a separate wrench.

Another object of myinvention resides in the provision of a novel means mounted on the hub for removably receiving and maintaining the wrench out of engagement with the nut. 1

A further object of my invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim forming a part of this specification. I

In the drawings :Figure 1 is aside elevational view showing my invention applied to a wheel hub; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longi tudinal sectional View of the hub on the axle, in elevation, showing to. advantage my improved wrench associated therewith and arranged in an inoperative position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the means for holding the wrench out of engagement with the nut; and Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof the shank of the wrench.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide a wheel including a rim 1, spokes 2 and a hub 3 from which the spokes extend radially. This wheel is of the usual construction which of itself forms no essential part of my invention, being merely illustrated so that a comprehensive understanding of the device may be gained. The hub is rotatably mounted 011 the usual type of vehicle axle 4.

In order to removably maintain the hub in position on the axle, I have removably and adjustably mounted on the reduced threaded extremity 5 of the axle, a nut 6 having a flange 7 extending from the inner end thereof, The inner surface of the flange is arranged in close relation with the inner end of the recess 8 in the hub and in which the nut itself is positioned. The outer periphery of the flange is provided with uni formly spaced sockets 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Assuming that it is desired to tighten the nut 6 on the threaded extremity of the axle or to remove the nut from the axle when the wheel hub is rotated, I have provided my improved means on the wheel hub for accomplishing this purpose, said means including preferably L-shaped engaging elements generally designated 10. Each of these elements is formed preferably from rod metal, circular in cross section, comprising a shank 11 and an angularly bent handle 12. These elements are arranged for sliding movement through the openings 13 in the bottoms of the oppositely disposed recesses 14 in the hub. The openings 13 are adapted at times, to register with the sockets 9 so that the free ends of the shanks may enter the sockets and engage the nut to cause the nut to move either inwardly or outwardly on the threaded extension 5. In order to limit the movement of the outer end of the shank, I have associated cross pins 15 with the same, said cross pins being arranged transversely of the shank and normally positioned within the recesses 1a.

In order to cause the free ends of the shanks 11 to automatically engage the sockets 9, I have provided my improved resilient means. In this instance this means comprises coil springs 16, one of which is disposed about each of the shanks having the respective ends thereof abutting the cross pins 15 and jam nuts 17. These nuts 17 have openings therein which incidentally permit of the sliding movement of the shanks therethrough and also have their outer surfaces screw threaded for facilitating removable engagement with the recesses 14.

In order to normally maintain the engaging elements 10 out of engagement with the socket 9 of the nut 6, I make use of my novel receiving blocks 18. One of these blocks is removably secured through the medium of a suitable fastening device preferably an elongated screw 19 to the outer surface of the hub adjacent each of the recesses 14% so that the handle 12 can be lifted, consequently causing the free end of the shank to be disengaged from the socket 9 and released so that it may rest in the arcuate groove 20 in the block.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Assuming that the device has been assembled in the manner described and it is desired to remove the nut 6 from the extension 5 without the aid of a separate wrench, the handles 12 are lifted from engagement with the grooves 20 and released whereupon the coil springs 16 bearing against the pins 15 will cause the shanks 11 to engage the sockets 9. Now by rotating the hub in a reverse direction, because of the substantially rigid relation established between the hub and the nut by the engaging elements, the nut will be readily removed therefrom. In applying the nut to the bolt this operation is reversed.

Although I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact details shown, however, I desire that meat stress be laid upon the arrangement of the novel means associated with the hub of the vehicle wheel for removable engagement, at times, with the nut on the axle whereby to remove the nut from the axle without the aid of a separate wrench.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can easily be seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, containing but a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactin'ed and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made with in the scope of the appended claim and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

lhe combination with an axle, a nut mounted thereon, and provided on its outer periphery with a plurality of uniformly spaced sockets, of a wheel hub rotatably mounted on the axle and provided at diametrically opposite points on its outer surface with inwardly extending transverse recesses, engaging elements slidably mounted in the recesses each of which includes a shank and an angular-1y bent handle, a pin extending through the shank, coil springs arranged about the shanks and disposed within the recesses, caps arranged about the shanks and in engagement with the recesses, the respective ends of the springs bearing against the caps and the pins for holding the shanks through the bottoms of the re cesses and in engagement with the sockets to cause the nut to rotate with the hub, and grooved blocks secured torthe outer surface of the hub adjacent the recesses for receiving the handles of the securing elements for removably holding the shanks out of engagement with the sockets to permit of therotation of the wheel hub. V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN PETERSON. lVitnesses J. A. LARSON, G. O. CARNEs,

Copies 0: this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner or Paton,

Washington, I). G. i 

